Along with Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, England is part of the United Kingdom. From its times as a colonizer through the Industrial Revolution and up to today, the country has had a major impact on the culture, customs, and legal systems around the world. As major economic and political player, it is a critical actor international organizations and governing bodies such at the United Nations and NATO. Its national religion is the Church of England, which was established in 1534. The country has a parliamentary system and a constitutional monarchy. Its Royal Family is probably the most visible and well-known in the world.

When many people think of England, they think primarily of its capital city, London. With landmarks like Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and so many more, London is indeed an incredible city (reached internationally most often by its enormous Heathrow airport). It’s known not only for history but for shopping, museums, and culture. The much smaller city of Oxford is known for its world-class University, which has been a center of learning for centuries and where some of the world’s greatest discoveries have been made and great works of literature composed. From Liverpool to Bath to Stratford-Upon-Avon and beyond, there are so many things to see, do, and learn about in this beautiful country.

Bath, England has been near the top of my bucket list for most of my life. Over 25 years ago at a summer camp, I met a young woman from Bath. She told me stories about a beautiful town in the west of England that had hot springs and looked like it was right out

We know what you’re thinking: London food tours? Yes, British cuisine has long had a negative reputation. Ask anyone to name a dish from England and you’ll probably get a unanimous answer: fish and chips. But we discovered there’s a lot more to British cuisine than beer batter.

“The history of the city is permanently linked to the river,” our guide Emily explained. On our London walking tour of the South Bank of the Thames River, we realized that the best way to enjoy and appreciate this city is from the banks of the Thames.

The magical world of Harry Potter has captured the world’s attention, including ours. From the very first book, we were captivated by the story of the little boy wizard. When we learned we were coming to London, there was no question that we’d visit Warner Brothers for a Harry Potter studio tour.

Long haul travel can really take its toll on the traveler. Transiting multiple continents can be a grind and the airlines don’t make it any easier for travelers – even their most loyal frequent flyers. London’s Heathrow airport is one of the busiest transit hubs in the world, but getting a shower at London Heathrow’s

Imagine you’ve booked a vacation and end up with a connection through London’s Heathrow airport – resulting in a 13 hour layover. How much of London can you see on a long Heathrow layover? As it turns out, the answer is a lot.

Over a decade ago, I had the opportunity to spend a month at Oxford University in Oxford, England. As part of my program, we spent a few hours in London, seeing a play at The Globe Theater, taking a cruise on the Thames, and generally getting quite lost. With so little time in the big